Already 29 Dutch municipalities are calling for the expansion of bottle deposits

Dutch municipalities

The total number of Dutch municipalities that joined rose to 29, with a combined population of 3.4 million people (full list below). Of these, the majority are from Overijssel (31%) and North Holland (24%).

The municipal elections will take place on 21 March 2018. The current aldermen and councillors therefore have only a few weeks left if they want to connect their municipality to the Statiegeldalliantie (Deposit Alliance) and thus make their commitment to a clean living environment concrete.

Consumentenbond

The Consumentenbond, the largest consumer organisation in the Netherlands, has also become a member of the Statiegeldalliantie. A questionnaire among 2000 members of the Consumentenbond panel shows that a large majority is in favour of extending deposits to small plastic drinks bottles (84%) and drinks cans (75%). Consumers are therefore giving a clear signal: the deposit system must be expanded.

Pressure on the Rutte cabinet

The diversity within the Statiegeldalliantie is remarkable. Partners include waste companies, a rowing club, environmental organisations, women's movements, consumer organisations and businesses.

These are organisations from literally every corner of society, and municipalities from all corners of the country. It is precisely this diversity, and the breadth of support, that puts pressure on the government of VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie to finally decide on the expansion of deposits.

When it took office, the government promised that it would be the 'greenest cabinet ever'. That is not possible without the expansion of deposits. Nor can the economy be labelled 'circular' as long as thousands of plastic packages leak out of the raw material stream.

On 15 March, the House of Representatives will hold a General Consultation on Circular Economy, with the agenda including the 'petition motion' Plastic Soup Surfer and the study into deposits on small bottles and cans.

Growth of the Statiegeldalliantie

The Statiegeldalliantie started at the end of November 2017 with 21 Flemish and Dutch partners. After two weeks there were already 47 partners, more than double. Six weeks after the start, the counter stands at 101 partners. New applications are still being received every day.

Read also: NOS, 29 municipalities support initiative for deposit on bottles and cans, 10 January 2018

This is the list of new partners who have joined since mid-December:

In the Netherlands

17 municipalities

Almelo, municipality with 72,479 inhabitants, on the initiative of D66.

Berg en Dal, municipality with 34,764 inhabitants, on the initiative of Groesbeekse Volkspartij.

Berkelland, municipality with 44,238 inhabitants, on the initiative of GroenLinks.

Borne, municipality with 22,975 inhabitants, on the initiative of D66.

Enschede, municipality with 158,140 inhabitants.

Haarlem, municipality with 159,229 inhabitants.

Heemstede, municipality with 26,936 inhabitants.

‘s-Hertogenbosch, municipality with 152,411 inhabitants, on the initiative of De Bossche Groenen.

Hof van Twente, municipality with 35,011 inhabitants.

Losser, municipality with 22,482 inhabitants, on the initiative of D66.

Maastricht, municipality with 122,753 inhabitants.

Oldambt, municipality with 38,108 inhabitants, on the initiative of D66.

Oldenzaal, municipality with 32,006 inhabitants, on the initiative of D66.

Olst-Wijhe, municipality with 17,957 inhabitants.

Schagen, municipality with 46,193 inhabitants, on the initiative of D66 and VVD.

Venlo, municipality with 101,059 inhabitants.

Zwolle, municipality with 125,548 inhabitants, on the initiative of D66.

19 organisations and businesses

Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden, manages the local and regional water management in the southern part of the province of Utrecht and a small part of South Holland.

Consumentenbond, works together with consumers for fair, just and safe markets.

Rowing club Aeneas, the rowing club of Roermond, founded in 1978 and counts over 200 enthusiastic rowing enthusiasts, from young (from 12 years old) to old.

Stichting GoClean De Liemers, cleans up litter, provides education in schools, carries out baseline measurements and is in discussion with municipalities and businesses about litter.

Stichting MEC Roosendaal, the platform for education about nature, environment and sustainability within the municipality of Roosendaal.

Stichting Clear Water Initiative, increases awareness about urgent issues such as proper sanitation, clean drinking water and polluted oceans.

By the Ocean we Unite, research, awareness and solutions for cleaner oceans.

EcoMilieu Advies, an independent research and consultancy firm with broad expertise in the field of flora and fauna, nature, landscape and nature legislation.

HA! Heikens Advies, for questions about personnel policy and case management absenteeism.

Connect, communication agency for businesses and governments, in Belgium and the Netherlands.